QUESTION  &   ANSWER   (answers to frequently asked questions):

DOES MONTAGE RADIO THEATRE PAY THEIR CAST & CREW?
What is Montage Radio Theatre's history?
How can I get involved with Montage Radio Theatre?
Do I have to memorize radio (audio) theatre scripts?
What genres does Montage Radio Theatre perform?
How often do actors rehearse audio (radio) plays?
How Do I contact the President of the Montage Radio Theatre?


WHAT IS MONTAGE RADIO THEATRE'S HISTORY?

Founded in 1995 by Bradley Thunderbird Phoenix. Montage Radio Theatre
(X-Cursion) performs live over the radio, in recording studios (to commit to CDs),
and on stage. Past performances on stage: Borders Bookstore in Farmingville (2001),
at the Stony Brook Union Auditorium (1996 & 1997), SAC Auditorium at Stony Brook
University (1998), Babylon Town Annex twice (2002), and Peacesmiths Coffeehouse in
Amityville, NY (2002). Performed live over the radio since 1999 on WUSB - 90.1 FM.
Recorded in two digital studios since 1997. All original scripts are copyrighted and / or
registered with the Writers’ Guild of America, East. Montage Radio Theatre’s mission
statement: to produce, perform, preserve, and promote the art of audio (radio) theatre.


HOW CAN I GET INVOLVED WITH MONTAGE RADIO THEATRE?

There are two ways a person can work with the Montage Radio Theatre:
1. As a GUEST ARTIST (actress, actor, writer, keyboardist, director, etc.).
2. As a PERMANENT MEMBER OF THE TROUPE.


WHERE DOES ONE PERFORM AUDIO (RADIO) THEATRE?

There  are   three  ways  you  can  perform  AUDIO   (RADIO)   THEATRE:

ON  STAGE     -     ON  THE  RADIO     -     IN  RECORDING   STUDIO


DO I HAVE TO MEMORIZE RADIO THEATRE SCRIPTS?

In RADIO THEATRE, memorization is NOT required, BUT it is necessary
for the actress / actors to be FAMILIAR with the script.

Radio Theatre (Audio Plays  -  audio short stories)  is a very good vehicle for:
A. Actresses & Actors who can do some accents or dialects.
B. Actresses & Actors who can perform cartoon voices.
C. Actresses & Actors who can perform celebrity impressions.

NOTE: Do not feel bad if you can't perform several accents (dialects).
If you have acting experience, you're welcome to audition with Montage.

HOW OFTEN DO ACTORS REHEARSE AUDIO PLAYS?

Not as much as STAGE PLAYS. Radio theatre does NOT
require elaborate costumes, blocking, or props. IF an actor / actress
can perform the required accent or voice needed for the character,
many rehearsals are not needed. The Montage Radio Theatre
normally rehearses one day a week  -  sometimes twice a week.
Actors new to audio theatre need to learn and understand
microphone techniques (ON MIKE, OFF MIKE, OVERLAPPING, etc.).


WHAT GENRES DOES MONTAGE RADIO THEATRE PERFORM?

If you look at the Bio & Play list section of this website,
you will note that the Montage Radio Theatre has performed a variety
of genres. We marry the classics with original plays. That’s why we call
ourselves: Montage. Here's a partial list of what we've done:

Abbott & Costello's Whose on First,  Jack Benny skits (original),
Monty Python parodies, Doc Savage, Edgar Allan Poe's The Tell-Tale
Heart, Hamlet (excerpt), Harold Pinter's short plays, and a host of
original scripts:  Twilight Zone-type plays, Hitchcock-type plays,
science fiction, horror, comedy, Saturday Night Live-type satires,
and of course straight DRAMA.

Montage  is  wide  open!

WHAT  COMMON  GROUND  DO  ARTISTS  HAVE  WITH  MONTAGE?

Most of the plays and skits are from a liberal's  progressive perspective.
Some of the material is for pure entertainment (our Marx Bros. parodies,
Dr. Helen Pain's Selfish Affirmations series, etc.); but there are plays
and skits that are anti-war, anti-corporate greed, anti-racism, anti-fascism,
pro-ecology, pro-art & creativity, pro-holistic approach to life.

* WILL ARTISTS (ACTORS, KEYBOARDISTS, ETC.) GET PAID?

The Montage Radio Theatre is in the process of getting sponsorship to PAY
their cast & crew. This includes charging admission, placing ads in the programs
(for attendees - CORPORATE SPONSORSHIP), and doing LIVE commercials on
stage or on the air / internet. It has always been the intention of the Montage Radio
Theatre to perform for charitable events and to monetarily compensate the cast and
crew for their time, traveling, and talent. We're working on it! We see no reason
why SAG and AFTRA members can't work with our theatre company.

STANDARDS FOR ACTORS

Age requirements: normally, ages 25 - 78.
Sometimes minors are cast, but they MUST be accompanied by a parent or guardian.

Prefer NON-SMOKERS      * Montage Radio Theatre is currently NON-UNION

Actors & Actresses that like any of the following: The Firesign Theatre, Marx Bros., Saturday
Night Live, Monty Python, Star Trek, The X-Files, Lord of the Rings, and the Twilight Zone…
will probably like what Montage Radio Theatre does. We have on-going theatre projects.

 

ACTING EXPERIENCE:

If you don't have a resume or demo CD or tape, you can still audition. The more
acting experience you have, the better. But we'd like to know that you have some
kind of experience performing in front of people, even if it's reading performance
poetry, stand-up, singing, MC-ing, DJ experience, or some stage experience.

CELEBRITY   IMPRESSIONS   &   CARTOON   VOICES     A-PLUS:

If you have experience in doing voiceovers, radio commercials, television commercials,
puppet shows, mainstream films, television soap operas, INDEPENDENT FILM
that's A +. Do you remember the television show, the Kopy Kats?  There
are many talented women and men out there who can perform various celebrity
impressions and impersonations. If you're bi-lingual or multi-lingual that's A+.


WHAT ABOUT OTHER RADIO THEATRE GROUPS?

GO   TO     www.audiotheatre.com


WE’LL HELP YOU START YOUR OWN AUDIO THEATRE TROUPE

Contact me, Bradley Phoenix. (SEE BELOW FOR CONTACT INFO)
Montage can offer suggestions and materials (in some cases), to help you get started.

HOW TO PERFORM AUDIO THEATRE:

There are many that do not understand radio theatre. They think radio plays
are boring and outdated--a dead or dying art. Totally un-true! Radio theatre is
fun and challenging! I'd rather see children listening to audio plays than watching
hours of television. You're forced to use your imagination with audio plays. All radio
theatre deals with contemporary social, scientific, and political issues and use

manual & electronic sound effects.

1. In audio plays, actors perform in front of microphones (always).
2. Actors / Actresses perform while reading their scripts.
3. Blocking, elaborate sets, props, and costumes are NOT required.
4. Audio plays do NOT require months of rehearsing.
   (Good actors can be handed a script 1 hour before performing and be ready!)

HOW    DO  I    CONTACT   THE   MONTAGE   RADIO   THEATRE?

E-MAIL:       info@bradleyphoenix.com 

 

Website:    www.bradleyphoenix.com

Mailing address:
Montage Radio Theatre, Attn: Brad Phoenix, P.O. Box 1034, Bay Shore, NY 11706

 

* If you forget our website, go to www.Google.com and put in Montage Radio Theatre.

Coming soon:
An annual Montage audio play contests among high schools in Suffolk County, NY.
Leasing Montage scripts (scripts cannot be photocopied without written permission from Montage).
Selling of Montage Radio Theatre plays / skits on a new website via Pay-Pal, money orders, etc.